title: Evaluation of Salivary Profile among Adult Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in South India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A lack of consensus on the possible association between diabetes and salivary dysfunction motivated us to conduct this investigation on the salivary parameters in diabetic and non diabetic subjects. This could also make the use of saliva as an alternative to that of blood in the diagnosis/monitoring of diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the salivary flow rates and the salivary physical and biochemical parameters of diabetic (D) and non diabetic (ND) subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants in this study included 30 non diabetic subjects and 30 diabetic volunteers who had Type 2 Diabetes mellitus for a minimum of 2 years. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected in the fasting state. Salivary pH, flow rate and organic and inorganic constituents were evaluated. Data which was collected was statistically analysed and interpreted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Salivary pH (ND=7.09±0.29, D=6.69±0.35), flow rate (ND=0.67±0.07, D=0.46±0.02) and salivary amylase (ND=92.51±13.74, D=19.20±1.8) were significantly lower in diabetics. They had significantly higher levels of salivary glucose (ND=4.33 ± 0.29, D=17.31±2.05), total proteins (ND=424.46±237.34, D=877.29±603.84), sodium (ND=4.31±0.65, D=14.42±1.83) and potassium (ND=20.84±0.71, D=25.95±1.56) and lower levels of calcium (ND=6.39±0.5, D=4.22±0.12) in comparison to those in the non-diabetic group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant variations were observed in salivary physical and biochemical parameters between diabetics and non diabetics. Evaluation of salivary parameters can be a cost effective and a non invasive alternative for screening, diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes, to blood.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital , Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Prathibha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: K M
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Mathangi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganesh
authors.forename: Arcot S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Subhashini
keywords: Saliva; Salivary flow rate; Salivary glucose; Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM)